Question about how to keep javelina from yards in suburb of Scottsdale, Arizona.

Q: " Hello, I have a problem with javalina (wild pig) here our home - a suburb of Scottsdale were in an outlying neighborhood and have always had nighttime visits, all the neighbors as well. If we try to put out plants in the front of the house within a few days they are eaten. The javalina will eat anything even cactusI had a few roses planted from Home Depot and they lasted only 2 days .The walkway up to the front of the house has been attacked continuously. I have landscape lights there - they run off a lighting transformer. I thought if you have a unit that can run off that same power supply 12 to 13 volts AC. I could tap in to the line and zap them I ran all the lights and wires for the lights in front of the house. The transformer is a 600 watt with power to spare. With the timer Ic ould set it tor un dusk to dawn. Lay in some hardware galvanized cloth ( heavy screen ) on the earth forground - or - a wire above the earth about 4" up to bump in to thel eg/s of the pig and a wire or two at the plants about a foot up so as not to lookunsightly. Years ago I used a car coil with a 12 volt AC from a door bell transformer to keep our dog out of the trash cans. Do you have something I could purchase that will work? Don't want to zap one of the kids severely.With all the people here in our small town (19,000 population) with similar problems may be able to market a kit. Thanks. M Carlson."

Answer: We are not aware of any electric fences that run off 12 to 13 volts AC.

We suggest you install the Fi-Shock Havahart Above Ground Electric Fence Kit Model SS-750RPX that uses 120VAC. Used primarily as an electric fence for dogs, the Fi-Shock SS-750RPX is also ideal for keeping out unwanted critters like the javelina. This Havahart ® electric fence kit contains an energizer, 10-23” PVC fence poles, 1-22” ground rod, 100 feet of aluminum wire, 50 cotter pins for fastening wire, 1 ground clamp and 2 extra fuses. Easy to install. One year limited warranty. The electric fence energizer included has a range up to one mile of fence. The "correction" is a mild one with the purpose of discouraging entry or leaving the yard. Additional 17 gauge 1/4 mile lengths of aluminum wire, PVC fence poles in green and packs of 30 and cotter pins for fastening the wire are available.

Share or Bookmark this post

Questions about the safety and advantages of electric fencing and electric fence chargers or fence energizers

Q: "What are the advantages of using electric fencing over barbed wire or wood fencing? Aren't the animals injured? I see that you sell Fi-Shock. Thanks for the information. Tom"

Answer: My knowledge of electric fencing is very limited.

I turned to the Fi-Shock web page where I found a great deal of information about electric fencing and energize. This includes informative writing as well as questions and answers. All the following comes from the Fi-Shock website or their catalog. All credit is given to those sources.

This is from the Fi-Shock Catalog:

"A typical energized or electric fencing is a psychological barrier that keeps farm animals in and wild animals out, even over long distances. High Tensile energized fencing systems can be both a psychological and a physical barrier for animals being controlled. Safety: Energized fencing systems provide a safe alternative to woven and barbed wire fences. A pulsed electrical current is sent along the fence wire, about one pulse per second, from an energizer. These short electrical pulses produce a short and sharp but safe shock which translates to a psychological barrier that trains the animal to avoid the fence. The shock is sufficient enough that the animal will remember and stay away from the fence.

Flexibility: Fi-Shock systems give you the flexibility you need to design an ideal enclosure, whether a portable application, semi-permanent, as an add-on to a permanent perimeter fence or as a stand-alone high tensile permanent perimeter fence.

How energized fencing systems work: A typical electric fence is a psychological barrier meaning that the animal will touch the fence and become “trained” not to go near the fence. The fence must be well-designed and constructed to absorb some pressure from animals, snow and wind. The energizer musthave enough power for the length of the fence and for the animals being controlled. When an animal comes in contact with an electrically charged fence wire, the animal will feel the electric current because the electrical charge passes through the animal to earth ground, thus completing the electrical circuit. If the animal and the ground terminal of the energizer are not sufficiently grounded, the path of electric current cannot be completed and the animal will not feel the shock. Since the earth is half of the electric fence circuit, it is very important to have a properly installed ground circuit. In areas where poor soil and earth grounding conditions exist, a two-wire system can be used with one wire being electrically charged while the other wire acts as earth ground. The two-wire system is utilized when there are alternating “hot” and ground wires installed. Also, the electrically charged fence wire must always be properly installed and not be allowed to come into contact with shrubs, tall grass, and any other conductive objects on a continual basis. Otherwise the electric charge from the fence wire will lose its “shocking” power. Regardless of what wiring system is utilized, ground rod(s) and their connection to the energizer’s ground terminal must always be used."

More from Fi-Shock:

"Q: What is the benefit of electric fencing vs. barbed or woven wire?

A: An electric fence system is a positive alternative to barbed or woven wire for two reasons. First, it is easy to install and maintain while also costing less than barbed or woven wire fencing. Second, it is a safer alternative because animals are trained to stay away from the electric fence and in the case that an animal does lean against the fence, it will not be harmed or push the fence over. With an electric fence, there are also fewer edges and points that may cut the animal and cause harm.

Q: Is electric fencing safe for the animals I am containing?

A: Electric fencing is a safe alternative because animals are trained to stay away from the fence and in the case that an animal does lean against the fence, it will not be harmed or push the fence over.There are also far fewer edges and points that may cut the animal and cause harm.

Q: Will energized fencing interfere with my power lines or phone lines in the ground?

A: They should not cause a problem to power or phone lines. To insure that there is not a problem make sure to locate the grounding system for the fence energizer at least 50 feet away from the grounding system for the phone or underground phone or power lines.

Q: Does energized fencing cost more than conventional fencing?

A: The most costly piece of any fence is the posts. In barbed and woven wire posts need to be set every 12-15 feet; however in High-Tensile fencing posts can be set 30-50 feet apart, which automatically lowers the cost of the fence. Here are some typical costs for various type of fencing options: (cost estimates per foot) Barbed Wire Cost: $.84 per foot Woven Wire Cost: $1.07 per foot High-tensile Cost: $.57 per foot Conventional electric Fence Cost: $.08 per foot

Q: Is there a benefit of using a certain voltage over another when getting an energizer or charger? A: Voltage is the measure of electrical force in a circuit to push the current down a long length of wire. Generally, the higher the output voltage the longer the fence line that can be effectively loaded. Q: Can electric fencing be used to keep certain animals out of an area?

A: Electric fencing can be used for both containing an animal while also deterring predators or nuisance animals from specific areas. Animals will receive a small shock every time they come in contact with the fence no matter which side of the fence they are on.

Q: Do you have fencing systems for horses?

A: Yes, in fact Fi-Shock offers a complete assortment of products for equine fences. By offering a wide array of polytape, polyrope and polywire as well as insulators and energizers, the equine offering is a safer and effective alternative to keep your horses contained.

Q: Will it hurt my children/my pets?

A: NO, electric fencing is the safest form of agricultural fencing. Even though voltages are high, current (Amps) is very low and is generally intermittent or pulsed. Amps are the dangerous part of an electrical charge."

Our thanks to F-Shock for supplying such complete information about electric fencing and energizers. And thank you for your question. Do choose your energizer according to what kind of animal you want to keep in or out.

Havahart Fi-Shock Low-Impedance Solar Fence Charger lets your electric fence work when no electricity is available to power a pet fence (not included) that can also keep small animals out of your garden. Charges up to 3 miles of electric fencing. Included is a built-in solar panel and a 4-volt battery. Low-impedance technology means 1/3 less drain on your battery than in standard fence energizers. This solar electric fence energizer resists shorts when the electric fence is in contact with weeds and grass. In addition to all of those features, it comes with a one year limited warranty.

Small Animal Containment such as Sheep, Goats, etc

FI-SHOCK 20 Mile AC Fence Charger works well to keep larger animals contained or excluded when you have electrical power available. Use for Pigs, Cattle, Horses, Deer, Elk, Etc.

Please visit our website SafeHomeProducts.com and type in "electric fence" or "fence energizer" to see the variety of electric, battery powered and solar powered fencers, fence wire and accessories that we sell.